I am a black woman* that has been playing rugby for five years, and saying it has changed my life is an understatement. I wish I had the self-belief, body confidence, and camaraderie that rugby has given me all my life. I’ve always wanted to explore: why don’t more black women play rugby? 

Traditionally, rugby can be seen as a sport for middle-class white men. However, more recently there has been a push to change this image. The trailblazing England women’s squad, the Red Roses, reached the 2021 World Cup finals in New Zealand and with the growth of grassroots clubs, rugby is quickly becoming a space where everyone can thrive. However, as much as I like to believe rugby is an inclusive utopia for everyone else as much as it has been for me, this has not always been the case. 

I started playing rugby at the end of 2018 as a way to de-stress whilst studying for my Master’s. I had always enjoyed watching men’s rugby and slightly delusional thinking led me to search for ‘East London Women’s Rugby Clubs’ and I found Hackney Gladies. My first training session was nerve-racking and cardio heavy but I quickly learnt what Hackney lacked in facilities, they made up for in character. We train on a quarter of an artificial pitch once a week, yet we’ve managed to produce two second-place women’s teams this season and are playing in the cup final at Twickenham Stadium on 30th April!